[Image above] Attendees at the combined meeting of the ACerS Structural Clay Products Division, ACerS Southwest Section, and Clemson University’s National Brick Research Center walk on top of a tunnel kiln at Acme Brick during plant tours on June 19, 2024. Credit: ACerS

 

Since The American Ceramic Society was founded in 1898, the “family tree” of ceramics has expanded enormously. In addition to the traditional sectors of refractories and structural clay products, ceramics now find application in advanced sectors such as bioceramics, electronics, and energy as well.

In response to this expansion of applications, in 2015, the ACerS Whitewares & Materials Division was transformed into the new Manufacturing Division to account for the industry’s broader focus. In the May 2015 Bulletin, ACerS then-president Kathleen Richardson (2014–2015) said that she saw the new Division as a “much needed bridge” between academia and industry.

“As both an academic and a business entrepreneur, I see many opportunities for interaction, and I encourage all members to get involved in the Manufacturing Division,” she said.

Not only ACerS members had their eye on the growth of manufacturing in the 2010s. During an informal meeting in fall 2011, leaders in the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association and the National Institute of Standard and Technology’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership were discussing how many people are unaware of the value of modern manufacturing. So, they decided to organize an event called Manufacturing Day to serve as a bridge between manufacturers and their communities so more people could appreciate the benefits of manufacturing.

YouTube video

Credit: National Association of Manufacturers, YouTube

 

The first Manufacturing Day was held in 2012, and in 2016, the National Association of Manufacturers, through their workforce development and education partner, The Manufacturing Institute, began leading the Manufacturing Day initiative. Since then, this annual event, which takes place on the first Friday of October, has grown to include hundreds of local events that take place across the U.S.

This year’s Manufacturing Day takes place this Friday, Oct. 4. The links below offer some ideas for celebrating this day, and more possibilities can be found on the Manufacturing Day website.

Author

Lisa McDonald

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  • Manufacturing